Do We Have a Match? Assessing the Role of Community in Coworking Spaces Based on a Person-Environment Fit Framework

Abstract

As working arrangements become more flexible and many people work remotely, the risk of social isolation rises. Coworking spaces try to prevent this by offering not only a workplace, but also a community. Adopting a person-environment fit perspective, we examined how the congruence between workers' needs and supplies by coworking spaces relate to job satisfaction and intent to leave. We identified five needs (i.e., community, collaboration, amenities, location, and cost), of which community was expected to be the central need. An online questionnaire was distributed among coworkers in Germany and Austria, resulting in a sample of 181 coworkers. Results showed that needs-supplies fit regarding community was related to job satisfaction and intent to leave in coworking spaces. Findings for the other needs, however, did not show that congruence is associated with outcomes. Overall, the findings highlight the importance of community fit in coworking and offer insights for workers and entrepreneurs in this area.

A Socio-Technical Perspective on the Application of Green Ergonomics to Open-Plan Offices

“…This demonstrates how the social and physical environment can influence behavioural adaptation. Furthermore, it is critical that work design, described as the content, structure As working arrangements become more flexible and remote working becomes more common, the risk of social isolation rises (Lashani & Zacher, 2021). To this point, coworking spaces can minimizes such isolation because they offer more than a workplace; they offer community.…”

Coworking spaces vs. home: Does employees' experience of the negative aspects of working from home predict their intention to telework in a coworking space?

“…While the primary users of coworking spaces are self-employed or freelance workers looking for an affordable place to work away from home, the proportion of employees teleworking is growing, reaching one third of users in 2019 (Deskmag, 2019 ). However, while the motivations of self-employed workers to use a coworking space have been the subject of several studies (Gerdenitsch et al, 2016 ; Orel, 2019 ; Robelski et al, 2019 ; Appel-Meulenbroek et al, 2021 ; Lashani and Zacher, 2021 ; Rådman et al, 2022 ), the reasons why employees may favor coworking spaces over home as a place to telework are largely unknown.…”

“…While coworking spaces are open to all workers, regardless of their status and sector of activity, self-employed workers in the sector of ICT, marketing or consulting remain their primary users (Deskmag, 2019 ). According to several studies, the main reason for this population's interest in coworking spaces is to overcome a feeling of socio-professional isolation and to find social support (Spinuzzi, 2012 ; Gerdenitsch et al, 2016 ; Bianchi et al, 2018 ; Robelski et al, 2019 ; Spinuzzi et al, 2019 ; Lashani and Zacher, 2021 ; Rådman et al, 2022 ; Wright et al, 2022 ). Self-employed workers are at risk of experiencing a pronounced feeling of socio-professional isolation in the absence of colleagues to lean on if difficulties are encountered in the course of their work (Gerdenitsch et al, 2016 ).…”

“…Self-employed workers are at risk of experiencing a pronounced feeling of socio-professional isolation in the absence of colleagues to lean on if difficulties are encountered in the course of their work (Gerdenitsch et al, 2016 ). Joining a coworking space can help to break this feeling of isolation, by finding social support from other users of the space (occasional help with a task and collaboration) and regain the feeling of belonging, if not to a work group, at least to a community of users (Gerdenitsch et al, 2016 ; Bianchi et al, 2018 ; Lashani and Zacher, 2021 ; Wright et al, 2022 ). In this regard, Gerdenitsch et al ( 2016 ) found that perceived social support from other coworking space users improved self-employed workers' job satisfaction and reduced their intention to quit their job.…”

“…The diversity of users' professional profiles also offers opportunities for knowledge sharing and professional networking which may help self-employed workers to expand their professional skills and activity (Spinuzzi, 2012 ; Spinuzzi et al, 2019 ; Rese et al, 2020 ). Finally, the mere provision of comfortable working facilities can enhance self-employed workers' productivity and health if their home workspace proves insufficient in terms of comfort or ergonomic qualities (Robelski et al, 2019 , 2021 ; Lashani and Zacher, 2021 ; Rådman et al, 2022 ).…”